"It's okay, sister. Do you want me to help with those two evil spirits following you too?"
The soft, childlike voice reached Yotsuya Miko's ears, making her wide, pretty eyes blink in shock.
"You can see us!"
"You can actually see us?!"
At that moment, the two evil spirits around her started to writhe violently.
Their screeching was sharp, like knives scraping across a chalkboard, and the thick black mist they exuded began to twist and churn, quickly filling half the bathroom.
The fluorescent lights overhead flickered violently.
Yotsuya Miko stood frozen, her adorable face growing tense and pale.
It was the first time she had ever seen spirits become openly hostile.
She panicked.
If she hadn't seen Shiraishi Asa destroy an evil spirit with her own eyes moments ago, she would have already bolted in terror.
Now, Asa was her only lifeline.
Without hesitation, she clung to him tightly, desperate for the sense of safety he radiated.
"These two are a bit stronger than the one earlier," Asa muttered, glancing at the sparking ceiling lights.
Still, compared to his ability that ignored strength entirely, it was nothing.
The only issue was...
"My arms are too short."
He looked up helplessly at the floating spirits.
"Sister, can I ride on your shoulders?"
"...Ride?"
Yotsuya blinked, misunderstanding the request for a moment. Her mind flashed with images too embarrassing to describe, and her face turned scarlet.
"...On your neck, I mean."
Asa clarified casually.
Understanding finally hit her.
"Ride... On my neck?... okay!"
Even then, the phrasing made her cheeks burn.
Quickly, Yotsuya crouched down.
Without hesitation, Asa climbed onto her slender, pale neck and straddled her shoulders.
Feeling the small boy settle onto her, Yotsuya's heart fluttered strangely.
The spirits roared louder in front of her, but she focused entirely on Asa's presence, standing up shakily.
Now carrying Asa like a mount, she felt oddly brave—like she was part of the battle.
Facing the terror that had haunted her for days, her panic twisted into determination.
"I won't mess this up," she thought.
Her heart pounded against her ribs.
"What do I do now?"
"Stay still. I'll take care of it."
Asa's voice was calm.
The range of his telekinesis was tiny—just 10 cubic millimeters—but within that space, his power was absolute.
Extending his hand, Asa reached out.
Snap!
Under Yotsuya Miko's terrified gaze, he brushed his hand lightly—
The nearest spirit crumbled into dust with a soft pop.
Snap!
He wiped out the second just as effortlessly as he did with the first one.
In less than two breaths, the nightmare that had tormented Yotsuya for days had vanished.
Her mouth fell open in awe.
"You're amazing!"
She lifted Asa down carefully, still trembling from excitement.
"I was so nervous, but you made it look so easy!"
The spirits that had driven her nearly insane were gone, and she felt an overwhelming sense of relief.
In her excitement, she grabbed Asa's small hand.
"Here! Feel it! My heart's beating like crazy!"
Before he could react, she pressed his hand against her chest.
"Hnnn~"
Yotsuya let out a small, almost dazed moan, her body shuddering slightly.
Her breath grew hotter against Asa's ear.
Asa pulled his hand away immediately, sighing inwardly.
"Why is everyone around me so weird?"
As he withdrew, Yotsuya blinked rapidly, finally realizing what she had just done.
Her face turned a bright, burning red.
She dropped his hand as if she had touched a hot stove.
As a second-year high school girl, she wasn't completely innocent. She had read enough manga and had explored a few things late at night in secret.
"How could I...?"
Her mind spun with mortification.
The blush staining her cheeks deepened, impossible to hide.
"Sister, I should head back now," Asa said casually.
Yotsuya suddenly remembered her real purpose.
She bowed slightly and pleaded, "Can you help me cleanse my house too?"
"I'll pay you properly! Like a real exorcist!"
Asa tilted his head thoughtfully.
"Sure, but I'm only free tomorrow."
"Tomorrow... that's fine!"
She clenched her fists.
She could survive one more night if it meant being saved.
After exchanging phone numbers, Asa left.
...
Back at the Service Club—
Yukinoshita Yukino sat stiffly at the table, her eyes flickering toward the door every few seconds.
Finally, Asa returned.
Seeing him, the tension in her body eased immediately.
"What took you so long?"
Without waiting for a reply, she patted the seat beside her.
"Come here. I'll help you with your homework."
"Okay."
Asa moved over obediently.
Yukino leaned closer, her long, glossy black hair cascading down her shoulders like silk, brushing lightly against Asa's nose, carrying her clean, subtle scent.
When he looked up, he saw her face bathed in the gentle light of the setting sun.
A living painting.
But Yukino suddenly frowned.
There was a faint fragrance on Asa.
One she didn't recognize.
One that didn't belong to her.
Her cold blue eyes darkened slightly.
"Hmph."
...
The next day.
Service Club Room.
The door burst open.
Shizuka Hiratsuka strode in, holding a shopping bag overflowing with snacks.
"Asa, I brought new snacks for you today—"
She stopped short.
No little boy in sight.
Her bright mood faltered.
"Yukinoshita? Where's Asa?"
Yukino didn't even look up from her book.
"He was picked up after school."
Her voice was flat.
A message still sat unopened on her phone:
Sister, Ai-nee is taking me out today, so I won't be back.
The moment she read it, Yukino had felt a rare pang of loneliness.
...
Meanwhile, across town.
At the Yotsuya residence.
"I'm home!"
A cheerful girl's voice rang out as she opened the door.
Waiting inside was a curvaceous woman with sharp, stylish hair.
"Mom, this is my... friend. His name is Shiraishi Asa."
Yotsuya Toruko raised an eyebrow.
She immediately caught the way her daughter's eyes sparkled when looking at the little boy.
She fell silent.
Good news: her daughter finally understood love.
Bad news: her love target was a eight-year-old boy.
***
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